our famous stained glass window
House of Musical Traditions
7040 Carroll Ave.
Takoma Park, 20912
TEL: 301-270-9090
FAX: 301-270-3010
email

HOURS: 11 am - 7 pm
Tuesday through Saturday
11 am - 5 pm Sunday & Monday

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rentals repairs music lessons concerts about HMT
Music Lessons updated May 13, 2008

Music lessons have lifelong value for all ages. Learning to play an instrument improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Practicing helps children learn to focus and organize their days, improves abstract thinking ability, and enhances memory, which can translate into higher academic performance.

We take great care in the selection of our music teachers. Every regular HMT teacher must pass an audition and undergo a Maryland State background check. Many of our teachers have advanced music degrees and performing and recording credits as well as years of teaching experience.

Some instructors teach from their homes in Maryland, D.C. or Virginia. If a teacher's location is listed as "HMT," that means they give lessons in our new teaching studios located at 7008 Westmoreland Ave, Takoma Park, MD. This is next door to our new store location at 7010 Westmoreland. The studios are upstairs from the Curves gym. This location is walking distance from the Takoma Metro station, and free parking is available in the lot behind our new store.

If you have any questions about our lessons program, or would like to sign up for a class, please email the Lessons Coordinator or call us at 301-270-9090.


Music Workshops

We also offer music workshops throughout the year, run by our own teachers or visiting guest teachers. If you are interested in conducting a workshop, please contact our Lessons Coordinator.

Bodhran Workshops with Scott Morrison

THIS SUMMER: COMBO CAMP, the Summer Musical Experience for Teens


Music Teachers
Listed alphabetically by instrument: A B C D F G H J L M P R S T U V

Teachers' recommendations for instruments and study materials

Looking for music lessons in your home? Check out bnbmusicworld.com. They have reputable teachers who will travel to homes in the DC-MD-VA area.

Instrument Style Teacher Price Location
Accordion piano & diatonic button Wendy Morrison $50 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Accordion diatonic button, Irish, B/C system Philippe Varlet $45 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Autoharp old time Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Banjo bluegrass Ira Gitlin $25 - 1/2 hour
$50 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Alexandria
Banjo old time Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Banjo bluegrass Robbie Ludwick $26 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Banjo old time/clawhammer Wendy Morrison $50 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Banjo most styles Mark Sylvester $25 - 30 min. Takoma Park
Banjo Irish tenor Philippe Varlet $45 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Baritone Horn classical, jazz Brian Weber $20 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
HMT
Bass (electric) varied styles Chris Colvin $25 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Bass (electric) rock, blues, bluegrass Robbie Ludwick $26 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Bass beginners Robert Nicholson $90-$130 per month Takoma Park
Hyattsville
Bass electric Tim Smith $20 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Bass most styles Mark Sylvester $25 - 30 min. Takoma Park
Bass electric Brian Weber $20 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
HMT
Bodhran Irish frame drum Jesse Winch $60 - 4 group lessons  
Bouzouki Irish Philippe Varlet $45 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Clarinet classical, jazz Denis Malloy $25 - 1/2 hour Takoma Park
Clarinet various styles Robert Silberstein $25 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Concertina anglo and english Wendy Morrison $50 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Coronet classical, jazz Brian Weber $20 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
HMT
Didgeridoo beginner Chris Colvin $25 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Drum steel pan, Carribean Kristen Jones $250
8 group sessions
North Brentwood
Drum African hand drums, djembe, ashiko Jaqui MacMillan $50 - 45 min.
$120 - 6 group lessons
HMT
Drum djembe, drumset, percussion Robert Nicholson $90-$130 per month Takoma Park
Hyattsville
Drum hand drums, frame drums, dumbek, djembe Stream Ohrstrom $35 - 1 hour Takoma Park
Drum bodhran (Irish frame drum) Jesse Winch $60 - 4 group lessons  
Dulcimer, Hammered all levels, all styles Karen Ashbrook $50 - 50 min. Silver Spring
Dulcimer, Lap old time Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Flute classical and Irish Elise Kress $55 - 1 hour Arlington
Flute classical Wendy Lanxner $25 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Flute folk, Native American Stream Ohrstrom $35 - 1 hour Takoma Park
Flute various styles Robert Silberstein $25 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Guitar most styles Scott Boren $40 - 50 min. Silver Spring
Guitar beginner Rita Clarke $25 - 1/2 hour
$35 - 45 min.
$50 - 1 hour
Silver Spring
Guitar most styles Chris Colvin $25 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Guitar traditional bluegrass, blues, and classical
beginning to advanced
Tom Espinola $25 - 1/2 hour
$50 - 1 hour
HMT
Chevy Chase
Guitar most styles Esther Haynes $25 - 1/2 hour
$45 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Guitar varied styles Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Guitar beginning to intermediate acoustic Wendy Lanxner $25 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Guitar rock, blues, bluegrass Robbie Ludwick $26 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Guitar beginning and intermediate Tom Margolis $35 - 1 hour Silver Spring
Guitar acoustic, Jazz, beginning Classical Alex Martin $25 - 1/2 hour
$45 - 1 hour
Mt. Rainier
Takoma Park
Guitar beginners Robert Nicholson $90-$130 per month Takoma Park
Hyattsville
Guitar Classical, acoustic, and electric Erik Sharar $25 - 1/2 hour
$50 - 1 hour
HMT
Guitar varied styles Tim Smith $20 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Guitar most styles Mark Sylvester $25 - 30 min. Takoma Park
Guitar Irish accompaniment Philippe Varlet $45 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Guitar blues, rock, folk, fingerstyle Brian Weber $20 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
HMT
Hammered Dulcimer Irish Karen Ashbrook $50 - 50 min. Silver Spring
Harmonica beginners Chris Colvin $25 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Harmonica beginning Tom Margolis $35 - 1 hour Silver Spring
Jaw Harp old time Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Lap Dulcimer old time Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Mandolin traditional bluegrass, blues, and classical
beginning to advanced
Tom Espinola $25 - 1/2 hour
$50 - 1 hour
HMT
Chevy Chase
Mandolin varied styles Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Mandolin bluegrass Robbie Ludwick $26 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Mandolin most styles Mark Sylvester $25 - 30 min. Takoma Park
Mandolin Irish Philippe Varlet $41 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Mouth Bow old time Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Piano classical, blues, jazz, rock Tom Margolis $35 - 1 hour Silver Spring
Piano all levels, classical Susan Levi $25 - 1/2 hour
$50 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Piano all styles Inja Stanic $36 - 1/2 hour Bethesda
Pennywhistle Irish Elise Kress $55 - 1 hour Arlington
Pennywhistle Irish Wendy Morrison $50 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Recorder early music Suzana Cooper $22 - 1/2 hour Chevy Chase
Saxophone classical, jazz Denis Malloy $25 - 1/2 hour Takoma Park
Saxophone various styles Robert Silberstein $25 - 1/2 hour Silver Spring
Steel Drums Carribean Kristen Jones $250
8 group sessions
North Brentwood
Trumpet classical, jazz Brian Weber $20 - 1/2 hour
$40 - 1 hour
HMT
Ukelele varied styles Bruce Hutton $45 - 1 hour Mt. Rainier
Violin beginners Pauline Lerner $30 - 45 min. Rockville
Violin Irish Philippe Varlet $41 - 45 min. Silver Spring
Voice folk, country, blues Rita Clarke $25 - 1/2 hour
$35 - 45 min.
$50 - 1 hour
Silver Spring
Voice most styles Esther Haynes $25 - 1/2 hour
$45 - 1 hour
Takoma Park
Voice Most styles, including folk, country, bluegrass Dede Wyland $55 - 1 hour Takoma Park